Lucy Wick

Lucy Wick, 89, died September 4, 2012, at her home in Albuquerque, NM. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, on Thursday, October 4, 2012, at 11:00 AM with Rev. Steve Sathre officiating. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Cremation has taken place. Lucy Elizabeth Allan was born March 27, 1923, in Tuttle, ND, the youngest of seven children born to Fred and Mamie Shier Allan. As a young girl Lucy worked in her father's drug store, often tending to the soda fountain. After her father's death in 1936 she would spend several summers living with her Irish-born maternal grandmother in Linton, ND, and helping her aunt and uncle manage the pavilion at nearby Seeman Park. Lucy was educated in Tuttle, graduating from Tuttle High School in 1941. Lucy married Glen E. Wick on October 19, 1941 in a double wedding with sister Marge and her fiance Gilbert Shirley, the wedding held at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Opie Rindahl officiating. Both grooms were natives of neighboring Robinson, ND, and were home on leave from Camp Claiborne, LA, where they were in training with the United States Army. On October 19, 1991, the two couples would celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a party hosted by their children and grandchildren at the Bismarck Municipal Country Club. Seven weeks after the double wedding the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. North Dakota's 164th infantry was soon activated with Glen Wick and Gil Shirley sent via Albuquerque, NM, and San Francisco, CA, to the Columbia River valley, specifically The Dalles, OR, where the immediate assignment was to guard Bonneville Dam and other important facilities from a possible Japanese attack. Lucy and Marge were able to join their husbands in The Dalles for what turned out to be an almost pleasant non-event in World War II, but by late summer 1942 their husbands were en route to Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and the Philippines "for the duration". As war widows, Lucy and Marge made their way back to Bismarck where they found employment with the A. W. Lucas Company, serving as sales clerks and models for the firms newspaper ads. Glen and Lucy were reunited in early 1945 in Spokane, WA, where Glen was admitted into Letterman General Hospital to recover from tropical diseases he had been stricken with while on Bougainville. After recovery and discharge from the Army they returned to Bismarck where Glen began a 32-year career with the Benson Optical Company. Glen was transferred to Billings, MT, in 1948, returning to Bismarck in 1951. After employment with a couple local clothing stores, Lucy joined Vantine's Paint & Glass in 1954, serving as office manager for the flagship Bismarck store until 1968, the year that Glen was again transferred, this time to Albuquerque, NM. In Albuquerque Lucy by choice became a housewife, but soon that didn't satisfy her industrious work ethic. She became intrigued with all sorts of crafts, at first concentrating on Ojo de Deos Eyes of God, a local native symbol made of wood and yarn. Lucy made and sold enough Ojos that she was able to finance the purchase of a new Mercury Montego in 1972. Glen retired from Benson Optical in 1978 six weeks after the birth of grandson Scott and joined Lucy in what would become a "mom and pop" craft hobby/business. They designed and made a wide variety of country-styled wooden items. Glen literally wore out one bandsaw and many blades on a second commercial quality bandsaw, while Lucy handled most of the paintwork. When not working with wooden crafts, Lucy made literally hundreds of needlepoint Christmas ornaments. It is known that many of these ornaments remain in use throughout the southwestern United States, here in North Dakota, and elsewhere. Shortly after moving to Albuquerque Lucy met Juli Lowey, her backyard neighbor at the time. Lucy was 45 and had a son about to graduate from UND while Juli was a generation younger, just starting her family. And they shared a common interest - contract bridge. Lucy was invited to join their fledgling bridge club, at the time comprised mostly of young women in their 20's. The bridge gals, as they were known, would make a number of group trips over the years as the club became more than just playing bridge. Lucy continued to play bridge until June 2012, actually winning high honors in what would prove to be her last bridge outing. Her last card game, however, would be a fierce two-handed game of Uno with grandson Scott. Glen Wick died in 1995, and Lucy made the decision to stay in Albuquerque, desiring to continue living in the house that had been her home since 1969. She enjoyed excellent health until about age 85 when failing eyesight, diminished hearing, heart disease, and other ailments began to make this more and more of a challenge. Her immediate family was 1200 miles away, but the bridge gals along with a combination of close friends and neighbors would become her guardian angels, helping with all sorts of things to allow Lucy to live her dream, living independently in her home as long as possible. A health crisis in 2010 resulted in meeting a home health care nurse who happened to live just two blocks away. Her two teenaged daughters would become additional care givers, and they would become a virtual part of Lucy's family. And starting in July 2012 a number of Hospice personnel would become part of Lucy's life. Despite all her physical ailments Lucy's mind was sharp to the end, and her vibrant personality and positive outlook made her a favorite of the Hospice crew. And the admiration was two-way. Lucy Wick is survived by her son, Doug, his wife Fran, and grandson Scott, all of Bismarck. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Mavis Allan of Dickinson and Gladys Wick of Robinson; nieces Barbara Ralph Angus of Washington, WV, Nancy Dennis Alfton of Golden Valley, MN, Jill Doug Joersz of Bismarck, Deb Virgil Wisdom of Washburn, ND, and Sarah Bowerman of Wilton, ND; nephews Bob Paulette Allan of Dickinson, Stephen, Tim, and Scott Wilson, all of West Virginia, Bob LaDonna Bowerman of Robinson, and Donnie and Mitch Wick of Dawson; and numerous grand nieces and grand nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Glen; sisters Marjorie "Marge" Gilbert Shirley and Mildred "Jeanie" Paul Wilson; an infant brother; brothers Robert V. Allan, George Allan, and Pete Jeanne Allan; infant nephew/niece twins; and nephews Rev. Tom Allan and Rick Bowerman. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck.

Lucy Wick

March 27, 1923 - September 4, 2012